# US 12,183,115 B2 · Embedded ultrasonic transducers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,115 B2 - Document ID: US12183115B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/931,458 - Filed: 2022-09-12 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-24 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Qi Wang; Jere C. Harrison; Mi Hye Shin; Yunhan Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183115B2 ## CPC - G06V 40/1306: {non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing} - B06B 1/0622: {on one surface} - B06B 1/0625: {Annular array} - G01H 11/08: using piezoelectric devices - G01L 1/16: using properties of piezoelectric devices - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - G06F 3/043: using propagating acoustic waves - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Examples of the disclosure are directed to micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) which can be embedded into a flexible band of a watch to detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and transfer data. In some examples, the MUTs can include a piezoelectric material disposed between two electrodes and coupled to a base material having a plurality of cavities, to support motion of the transducer structure. In some examples, the MUTs can be coupled to multiplexing circuitry to stimulate, configure and control the MUTs. In some examples, the size, shape, and arrangement of transducers can be changed to improve characteristics associated with ultrasonic transmission. In some examples, the MUT array can be driven (e.g., by the CMOS circuitry) to beamform the transmitted and/or the received ultrasonic waves. In some examples, the one or more MUT arrays can be configured to generate haptic feedback via the flexible band. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a wearable band; one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers embedded in the wearable band and configured to transmit and receive acoustic waves; and multiplexing circuitry embedded in the wearable band and including a plurality of switches, wherein the multiplexing circuitry is coupled to the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers via a plurality of flexible traces; wherein the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers are selectively configurable to wirelessly communicate data to a second electronic device, and are selectively configurable to generate a sensation of pressure on a user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers are selectively configurable to transmit first one or more acoustic waves to an object; and the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers are selectively configurable to receive second one or more acoustic waves associated with a propagation time of the first one or more transmitted acoustic waves reflected off the object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers are selectively configurable to detect contact on one or more surfaces of the wearable band. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the contact detection includes detecting a fingerprint of a user of the device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers are further selectively configurable to: transmit first one or more acoustic waves towards a finger of the user of the device; receive second one or more acoustic waves reflected by the finger; and detect one or more characteristics of the finger based on the second one or more acoustic waves to assist in detecting the fingerprint. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the contact detection includes detecting a first location of the contact on the wearable band. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the contact detection comprises detecting movement of the contact from the first location to a second location on the wearable band. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the contact detection comprises detecting a force of the contact on the wearable band. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to the multiplexing circuitry and configured to receive first one or more signals carrying data wirelessly received from the second device to invoke one or more functions of the device including calculating a distance between the device and the second electronic device and determining whether the distance violates a threshold distance criterion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers are selectively configurable to detect gestures in proximity to the wearable band. ### Claim 11 A device comprising: a wearable band; one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers embedded in the wearable band; and control circuitry coupled to the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers; wherein the control circuitry is configured to alter a time delay of a plurality of ultrasonic waves generated by the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers, and cause the plurality of ultrasonic waves to be transmitted towards a user of the device; and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cause the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers to transmit the plurality of ultrasonic waves to generate a sensation of pressure on the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cause the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers to transmit the plurality of ultrasonic waves to interfere constructively and destructively and produce one or more pulses of pressure over a first area to generate the sensation of pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cause the one or more arrays of piezoelectric transducers to: during a first time period, generate the sensation of pressure over the first area; and during a second time period, generate the sensation of pressure over a second area. ### Claim 14 A method for generating haptic feedback to a wearer of an electronic device, comprising: within a wearable band, transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic waves towards a user of the electronic device; and altering a time delay of the transmitted plurality of ultrasonic waves to generate a sensation of pressure on the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising causing the plurality of ultrasonic waves to interfere constructively and destructively, and generating one or more pulses of pressure over a first area to cause the sensation of pressure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: during a first time period, generating the sensation of pressure over the first area; and during a second time period, generating the sensation of pressure over a second area.